Question about Iraqi Army/ Police force

Can anybody who is reading this, especially politicians or soldiers tell me why that the Iraqi Army and Police force are not being given any decent gear?

Bush and his minions keep saying "when they stand up we'll stand down" yet I regularly see stories where they are running away, or are extremely scared going into battle. Reminds me of my buddy who was in Vietnam saying you could give the S. Vietnamese a bridge to hold and 99% guarantee it would be in enemy hands the next day.

Anyway when I see or hear stories about this they are driving unarmored vehicles, shooting ratty old AK's without scopes, and have little or no body armor.

I personally would be scared going into there under those conditions, and I wonder how they will ever "stand up" without proper equiptment that makes them fell relatively safe.

So, especially politicians and army folks, do any of you all know why we are not giving these guys any stuff? I always feel sorry for them when I see US and Iraqi troops together I would almost feel bad making them come with me as unprotected they are. Is it economic? If so it seems "penny wise and pound foolish" (like most of this war has been) Is it racist? Iraqi's are expendable? If so no wonder they have dual allegiances a lot of them. Or are we afraid that the stuff will go to insurgents??

•  It's all for show and tell

  We aren't going to equip them with any better gear than they had when we invaded.  Probably half of the recruits are there for training before going back to their insurgent groups anyway.

  If we stand down when they stand up, and the whole idea is to never leave, then having them stand up defeats the purpose.

  by Grannus on Fri May 12, 2006 at 04:33:17 AM PDT

•  Go to insurgents?

  or, already be in the hands of insurgents?

  It's pretty clear that bushco is not about to establish an effective Iraqi military that can turn their guns on us, don't you think?

  After all, we are building that massive embassy and all those 50-year bases there. 'Standing down' does not really seem to be in the plans, unless we foolishly equip them to 'stand up' - to US!

  by Clem Yeobright on Fri May 12, 2006 at 04:37:25 AM PDT

•  Well, just think about it for

  a minute..........we're building a mighty fortress of an embassy there, which is right beside the Iraqi government building.  We're building huge air bases in the desert.........could it be that BushCo wants to keep us firmly planted there to keep an eye on all that oil?

  But meanwhile, we'll just say it's because we don't want the insurgents to get their hands on the equipment.  Nevermind the fact that the insurgents are well financed by some of our "friends" in the region and can afford better equipment than we have.

  Plus.....the insurgents keep killing off all the new Iraqi police and military people, so why give the Iraqis better equipment?

  Sad isn't it?  BushCo is planning for a long term occupation in Iraq.......and he's lusting after Iran too.  Aren't our leaders wonderful?

  by Mz Kleen on Fri May 12, 2006 at 04:52:09 AM PDT

  •  In a word...

    NO

    by Grannus on Fri May 12, 2006 at 04:54:15 AM PDT

•  Part of the problem in Vietnam

  was that the members of the S. Vietnamese army weren't interested in fighting.  The US was foolish in their belief of what the fight was actually about.  S. Vietnamese leadership was only interested in protecting their good thing and didn't care a lick about the people or the army or what have you.  Weapons flowed to the Viet Cong through the S. Vietnamese army faster than one could imagine.  The US was the first major suppliers of weaponry for the Viet Cong.  It was a situation where (once again) we got into the fight without knowing much about it or about the people involved.

  by newfie on Fri May 12, 2006 at 05:09:05 AM PDT

•  The Short answer is

  US Military does not trust the Iraqi forces.  I served in the Israeli Defense Forces in Lebanon and we had the same problem with the Christian Militias.  In a combat zone, you cannot have an untrusted military force dressed and equipped exactly like your forces.  As a soldier, an officer or a general, you must always be able to distinguish between your own and others.

  by mdco on Fri May 12, 2006 at 06:23:53 AM PDT

•  They also don't have

  any airborne capability of their own, do they? Somehow, I can't see Bush, or any other President, leaving Iraq without an air force. The implications of this bother me. A lot.

  by count on Fri May 12, 2006 at 06:32:38 AM PDT

•  Good Speculation

  Actually what so many people have said here, that we aren't getting them ready because we want to permanently occupy is the most reasonable explanation

  by Hollowdweller on Fri May 12, 2006 at 05:28:42 PM PDT